Hell Fire (Wild Fire: 2) (FINISHED)

41 Part III - WHERE ARE YOU?

"Ember," Max called as he entered the hotel room. "I'm home!"

All his ears met were silence, and he set his bags of groceries on the table, gazing around nervously as he entered the room.

"Ember!" he called, fear catching in his tone.

Jesus... did Elijah get to her again?

"Ember!" Max yelled, the panic settling in as he dashed into the living room and searched the cushions for her.

There was no blood... no signs of a struggle...

What the hell?

"Ember!" he cried, "where are you?"

But his phone came to life in his pocket, and he gazed down at it, startled as he recognized her text tone.

Hey.

That was all it said.

He punched his thumbs in on the pad.

Who are you?

It took a moment for them to respond.

Your girlfriend, dumbass.

He stilled, confusion coiling him inside when he recognized her playful tone.

Where are you? he demanded.

Somewhere. Wanna find me?

He just breathed for a second, then a big smile spread across his face.

Is that what this is, Angelus? You want to play a game?

Yes. Why else would I ask?

He chuckled then, messaging, Fine. Tell me the rules.

Her typing icon came up for almost a minute, and he smiled to himself when she sent it.

Hide and seek. You have to find me. I'll give you a hint. I'm somewhere in the hotel room (mainly because you'll kill me if I'm not), and if you don't find me in two minutes, I get to choose what happens next.

A new one popped up:

And no mind reading. That isn't fair.

He laughed to himself. Alright.

He then said aloud in a daring tone, "Ready or not, here I come!"

Max then darted across the room, accepting her rule of the mind reading because it would be more of a challenge for him, anyway.

He threw off the couch cushions, tossing them across the room, checking over and under the couches in a matter of seconds.

He then shot out to Ember's bedroom, slamming her door open in hopes to startle her, but she made no sounds.

He burst in then, throwing back her sheets, shoving open her closet, and peaking under her desk and bed.

When she wasn't there, he went over to his room and did the same, but he didn't check under his bed because it was framed with wood. No one could enter.

He then checked the bathroom, going under the sink and behind the toilet, finding it empty.

He stood then, heart pounding.

But where could she be?

His phone chimed then, and he gazed down at it:

I wiiiiin. I wiiiiiiiiin.

He laughed softly, messaging, Yes, you did. Where are you, anyway?

The typing icon came up, and his brows raised when he read it:

Under your bed.

How the hell is that humanly possible?

Second later, he gazed up, finding Ember stepping out from his bedroom door. "I'm tiny," she responded smugly.

He only shook his head, making his way over to her and gently pecking her lips before drawing back.

She blinked at the sudden gesture, then gazed up, curious.

"Another game?" she insisted, tipping her head to the side.

He raised his brows, gesturing for her to go on.

"A race," she said with childish mischief.

He shook his head, lashes lowering. "Fine." He pointed at her. "But no cheating."

She laughed, nodding. "Since you lost the game earlier, you owe me a can of cola. And this one," she thought for a moment, "if I win, you owe me an expensive dinner. If you win..." she looked up, "what do you want?"

He smirked. "You get to wear whatever I want for an entire day."

Her brows arched. "That's not concerning."

He only laughed, looking forward. "Here, to the front door, and then to the couch. Whoever reaches the couch first wins."

She only smiled. "Yessssssss."

"Three," he said, bending down to a lunging position, "two, one. Go!"

Right as his foot collided with the ground to spring forward, Ember hopped up and landed on his back, making him yell out when she clutched onto him, feeling the air cut her skin when he darted from there to the couch.

Right before he got to the couch, she jumped off his back and landed at the finish line, smiling up at him smugly as he glared.

"What did I say about cheating, Angelus?" he uttered.

Her lips drew up and she crossed her arms over his chest. "You did, too. Superspeed is cheating."

He dropped his hands, rolling his eyes at her loophole. "You're too smart for your own good."

She only giggled.